Detecting noise in decision making processes of a biotechnology startup

Abstract

This dissertation is about noise, which is a flaw in human judgment. When it comes to judgment errors, bias and heuristics are well-established fields of study. Noise, or decision scatter, is a relatively new area of research and hence deserves attention. The following paper will highlight whether and why noise exists in a young organization using a German biotechnology startup as an example. The study topics were investigated using exploratory research and in-depth interviews with every employee of the organization. As the results demonstrate, there are different kinds of noise in a startup. Although there is limited knowledge of the issue, the startup is very interested in incorporating it into the current development of decision-making frameworks. This thesis is, thus, a first step into a scarcely explored subject and suggests companies should increase their awareness of the topic to reduce noise and better serve their consumers.

Date of Award	4 May 2022
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Cristina Mendonça (Supervisor)